Method of forming plate gangs for multicolor printing



among? Fonmne rmmrmqs FOR: MULTICOLOR PRINTiNG Original Fild J'une127r 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 6a Fig 8 Bernard F. Heck V b I I 41 50 56 5o 51:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 B. F. HECK Original Filed June 27, 1932 METHOD OF FORMING PLATE GANGS FOR MULTI COLOR PRINTING May 7, 1935.

Bernard Heck UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF FORMING PLATE GANGS FOR MULTICOLOR PRINTING Bernard F. Heck, St. Paul, Minn.

Original application June 2'1, 1932, Serial No.

619,367. Divided and this application Septunber 23, 1933, Serial No. 690,687

6 Claims. (01. 101-4012) My invention relates to the forming of plate and drawn to a larger scale; Fig. 11 is an elevagangs for multi-color printing and has for an tional sectional view taken as on line -I Il l of object thereof to provide a novel and effective Fig. 9 and drawn to a larger scale; and Fig. 12 method by which accurate register may be had is a perspective view of one of the gauge blocks in multi-color printing from gangs of plates, an employed. 5 additional object of the invention being to pro- In making engravings to be used in forming vide a method of the instant character capable electrotype color plates, the engraver customarily of practical application in connection with a cuts gauge marks at top and bottom of the ensimple device of the nature disclosed in my 00- gravings which marks show on the electrotype pending application for patent, Ser. No. 619,367, plates and are used in stationing the different 10 from which this application is divided. color plates in a proof press to register the dif- Another object of the invention resides in proferent prints taken therefrom. viding a method in which the several plates of Upon being satisfied with the showing made the various gangs are similarly formed with by the electrotype plates in the color proof press,

15 gauge holes or otherwise machined for gauging the electrotyper has then to mount like plates, 15 contact with cooperating gauging elements and in gangs, it being his desire, of course, that the in which the ultimate relation of each plate with corresponding plates of the several gangs occupy respect to the companion plates of its respective corresponding relations with respect to the comgang is precisely determined individually and in panion plates in their respective gangs. Ordithe same manner as each corresponding plate narily, the different electrotype plates of the sevgo of each of the other gangs. eral gangs are as accurately as possible simi- A further object of the invention resides in larly trimmed with respect to the gauge marks p. providing a method, as above, in which the thereon with the view of assembling the plates plates of each gang, relatively disposed in their of each gang in abutting relation on a mounting ultimately defined relation, are permanently seblock. In following this practice, errors of more 5 cured in such relation to a suitable backing. or less magnitude occur and are sometimes More specifically, the invention resides in a greatly multiplied before the individual plates method of forming a set of composite electroof a gang are ultimately secured to their respectype gangs in which method the several plates tive mounting blocks. Due to such errors it is of the difierent gangs for different colors are impossible invariably to secure perfect register successively grouped upon a device having indiof prints from all of the corresponding plates vidual gauge members for the individual plates of the different gangs employed in a multi-color of a gang, said method involving the attachment job. The employment of my invention in formof the plates of each gang in their gauged rela-: ing sets of color gangs practically eliminates all tion to a suitable backing while disposed upon chance of error and results in substantially accu- 35 said device so that the corresponding plates in rate register, regardless of the number of plates the several gangs of the set have identically the incorporated in each gang. same relation with respect to their companion In carrying out my improved method, an asplates in their respective gangs. sembling device is employed, one'form of such 40 These and other objects of the invention will device being shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11. This 40 more fully appear in the following description. device includes a bed 10 supported on legs I2,

In the accompanying drawings, which, among the bed It! being of any suitable length. Upon other things, illustrate a device by means wheresaid bed I0 and at the forward edge thereof is of my improved method may be. carried out, mounted a front guide l3 consisting of a bar of 5 Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 are perspective views of ordimetal formed from end to end thereof with a naryengraved plates from which electrotype dovetailed groove l4 opening at the top of plates used in color printing are made, one of the bar. such plates being employed for each of the dif- Formed in the bed ID at right angles to the ferent colors used; Fig. 5 is a view of the ultiguide l3 are parallel slots IS. A way l8 slidmate print; Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an ably disposed upon the bed l0 overlies the slots 50 electrotype plate made from an engraved plate, l5, said way being substantially the same length as shown in .Fi d v n uge holes asthe guide l3. This way I8 is formed with drilled therein; Fig. .7 is a perspective view of a threaded bores I9 (Figs. 10 and 11) to receive mounted gang, the several electrotype plates clamping bolts 20 which extend through the comprising said gang being like that shown in slots l5 and hold said way in various adjusted 55 Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line' positions with respect to the guide I3.

8-8 of Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an The way I8 is constructed with a dovetailed assembling device capable of use for carrying out tongue 22 extending along the upper side theremy improved method; Fig. 10 is a fragmentary of, said tongue being adapted to be received in 00 sectional view taken as on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 11 a dovetailed slot 23 formed in the underside go of a guide 24 similar in form to the guide l3. The guide 24 is also provided with a dovetailed slot corresponding with the dovetailed slot l4 of guide l3. The guide 24 may be locked against movement with respect to the way I8 by a number of thumb screws 34 threaded into said guide from the back thereof. These thumb screws 34 engage a gib disposed within the slot 23 and extending along one edge of the,

tongue 22. As said screws 34 are tightened the gib 35 is forced against the tongue 22 which holds the guide 24 from movement on the way I8.

In conjunction with the two guides 24 and 13 a number of supports 26 are employed which are constructed from blocks of metal beveled along the surfaces 51 and 58 thereof to snugly fit within the two grooves 14 and 25 of the guides l3 and '24. These blocks are inserted 'endwise into said. grooves and may be slid from the block 26 at such time as said blockv may be removed from its guide. The set screw 30 is formed with a square hole 3! in its upper end by means of which a suitable wrench may be applied thereto. When one of the gauge blocks 26 is mounted ineither of the grooves -mounting therefor.

l4 or .25, said block may be firmly locked in position by turning the screw 30 down against the lower wall 33 of the guide. This urges the beveled walls 51 and 58 of the block intoiengagement with the adjacent walls of the slots l4 or 25 and holds the block locked against movement.

I have shown in Fig. 5 an ultimate print to be printed and in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the various engraved plates from which electrotypes used in printing this figure would be made. The print illustrated is printed in four colors, blue, red, gold and black and the engraved plates for these colors are designated by the reference characters 36, 31, 38 and 39 in Figs. 1 to l respectively. A number of the electrotypes made from plate 36 are indicated at 36a, 35b and 360 in Fig. 7, a similar electrotype being indicated at 360 in Fig. 6. Corresponding electrotype plates made from the engraved plates 31, 38 and 39 would be required, of course, to complete the set. On the body 4| of each of the various electrotypes is a raised portion 41] corresponding with the raised portion 40a of the engraved plate 36. The metal of the body 4|, except at the raised portion thereof is dead metal, its primary purpose being to provide means for attaching the plate proper to the In this dead metal, the gauge marks 42 and 43 (Fig. 6) appear in simulation of the corresponding gauge marks 42a and 43a (Fig. 1) formed in the original engrav- In multi-color proof printing, it has been the practice to some extent to drill gauge holes in the electrotype plates, such holes having a definite relation with respect to the gauge marks thereof and to successively mount such plates on guide pins in the bed of a proof press whereby registered printing of the various plates could be accurately carried out to form the proof print. In carrying out my present method, such gauge holes may be utilized. In Fig. 6, I have shown a plate 36a in which has been drilled two gauge holes 44 and 45. In thus drilling a plate in the type of machine available for the purpose, the plateis mounted upon a support and adjusted under a locating glass until one or the other of the gauge marks 42 or 43, as the case may be, registers with a cross hair associated with said glass. When the plate is properly located, a drill is brought into action, said drill being so mounted and operated as to'drill the holes at predetermined locations with respect to the gauge mark of the plate upon which sight is taken. All the electrotype plates taken from the engravings 36, 31, 38

and 39 are drilled in the same manner with respect to each gauge mark, each plate then having gauge holes 44 and 45, the holes in each plate being located in identically the same relation with respect to their gauge marks 42 and 43. In addition to the gauge holes two holes 50 are drilled in the dead metal of the plates for a purpose soon to be explained.

In the mounting of the plates upon the assembling device the following procedure is employed: The thumb screws 34 and the bolts 20 are first loosened .so'that the guide 24 may be moved in two directions upon the bed 10. A block 26 is next inserted in the slot I4 of guide l3 at approximately the desired locality. t

guides I3 and 24. The plate 36a is then squared up with respect to the guide l3, the guide 24 being moved lengthwise on the way I8 and said way being moved transversely on the bed 10 as may be required in accomplishing the purpose.

When the guide 24 is properly located all of the screws 34 and the bolts 20 are tightened to hold the parts 24 and I8 rigidly in position. If desired, a second plate may be temporarily used to procure parallelism between the two guides. In such case, this plate .would be mounted upon two gauge pins situated at the far ends of the guides 24 and l3, whereby parallel spacing of the guides could be readily procured. With the guide-24 properly positioned and clamped, additional gauge blocks are applied and secured to the guides I3 and I4, the distances between gauge pins 21 in the blocks 26 in each guide being made suflicient to accommodate the width of the plates and being calipered for accuracy. Thus, all of the blocks 26 for all of the electrotypes to be incorporated in a gang are assembled and held in selected relation with respect to each other.

With the blocks 26 in place in the guides l3 and 24, the remaining plates going to make up the gang are applied, one to each pair of gauge pins, and pressed down to rest upon the upper edges of said guides I3 and 24. In Fig. 9 the plates 36a, 36b and 36c, made as from the engraving 36, have been illustrated as mounted upon the device. A filler block 48 of wood is then inserted between the two guides I3 and 2i and beneath the various plates 36a, 36b and 36c. Upon this block is placed a metal backing 49 which snugly underlies said plates. Solder is then flowed into the holes 50 forming solder keys 5| securing the plates to the backing 49. The structure thus formed is removed en bloc from the gauge pins 21 without disturbing the position of the blocks 26, the

plates and backing being then trimmed down tothe proper dimensions, the end portions of said plates containing the gauge marks and gauge holes being cut away to complete. the construction of the gang.

The several plates for another color gang are placed upon the assembling device, the same being readily applied'to the gauge pins 21 without disturbing the position of the blocks 26. These plates are then secured to a backing therefor and then removed from the assembling device and trimmed as in the case of the gang first described. The same operation is repeated for the several plates of each of the remaining color gangs, each gang being built up without changing the position of the pins 21. After all of the gangs have been completed it will be found that each plate of each gang will accurately register with the corresponding plate of each of the other gangs so that impressions may be taken from all of the plates and brought into absolute register.

A set of color gangs, as Iormed by the method hereinabove described, would be used preferably as master plates for making other electrotypes. If desired, however, the difierent gangs of a set, as I construct them, may themselves be used for printing, in which case they would be attached to a suitable wood block. And, too, original hand engraved plates, zinc etchings, copper etchings, photoengravings and stereotypes may be assembled in gangs in accordance with the present invention to be used for printing or duplicating.

Through my improved method, the various electrotypes of a gang may be mounted accurately in predetermined relation with respect to one another. The corresponding plates of the different gangs have exactly the same relation with respect to the other plates of their respective gangs so that absolute register is procured.

Even though an irregularity occurs, for example, as in the clamping of the blocks 26 in the guides l3, 24, the same irregularity occurring in each gang will not affect register in printing. As many plates as desired can be associated ina single gang without accumulative error and the relation between plates of each gang of a set will be identical in each instance. 7

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:

l. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color printing which consists in drilling gauge holes in the several plates'of a gang in identical positions relative to the register marks thereon, in mounting the plates upon a support having gauge pins arranged to enter the gauge holes in the plates and establish a definite relationship between such plates, in attaching a backing to the plates while mounted on said support and disposed in said definite relationship by said pins, and in thereafter removing the formed plate gang from said supportand-gauge pins.

2. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color printing which consists in drilling gauge holes through the end portions of the several plates of a gang in identical positions relative to the register marks thereon, in mounting the plates upon spaced supports having gauge pins arranged to enter the gauge holes in the plates and establish a definite relationship between such plates, in attaching a backing, disposed between the supports, to the intermediate portions of the plates while mounted on said supports and held in said definite relationship thereon by said pins, in removing the formed gang from said supports and gauge pins, and in trimming off said end portions of said plates in conformity with said backing.

3. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color'printing which consists in drilling gauge holes in the plates of a gang in identical positions relative to the register marks thereon, then applying the plates to gauge pins fixed and arrangedto enter the gauge-holes in the plates for establishing a definite relationship therebetween, then attaching a backing to the plates while disposed in said definite relationship by said pins, and then removing the formed gang from said pins.

4. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color printing which consists in drilling gauge holes in the several plates of a gang in identical positions relative to the register marks thereon, in. mounting the plates upon a support having gauge pins thereon arranged to enter the gauge holes in the plates with portions of the plates superimposing a backing, in drilling holes through the dead metal of said plates, in casting keys into said holes and to said backing to hold the plates attached to the backing, and in removing, the formed gang en bloc from said support and gauge pins.

5. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color printing which consists in arranging a plurality of gauge members, two for each plate of a gang, to correspond with a predetermined arrangement of the plates in the gang to be provided, in forming engaging portions in the several plates in identical positions relative to register marks thereon for cooperation with the gauge members, in applying the plates of the gang to said gauge members, in permanently attaching a backing to said plates while they are held in their predetermined relationship through the cooperation of each thereof with its respective gauge members, and in finally removing the completed gang, plates and backing en bloc, from said gauge members.

6. The method of forming plate gangs for multi-color printing which consists in arranging gauge members, a plurality thereof for each plate of a gang, to correspond with a predetermined arrangement of plates in the gang to be provided, in similarly forming the several plates with engagingportions for cooperation with the gauge members, in applying the plates of the gang to said gauge members, in permanently attaching a backing to said plates while they are held in their predetermined relationship through the cooperation of each thereof with its respective gauge members, and in finally removing the completed gang, plates and backing en bloc,

from said gauge members.

BERNARD F. HECK. 

